Q. Am I a Buddhist if I practice Zen meditation?

A. A British man doesn’t become Korean because he eats Korean food, and a Korean doesn’t become Japanese because he learns the Japanese language unless he changes his or her nationality. Likewise, a Christian doesn’t become a Buddhist only because he practises Zen meditation.

However, you should know that being a Christian means that you think you are a Christian and not that the essence of your being is Christian. The essence of your being is neither Buddhist nor Christian. Whether you are a Buddhist or a Christian, it is no more than a sort of label you give yourself and it is not actually the essence of your being nor does it change it at all.

You should try to realise what you are when all the labels attached to you are removed.